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Iverson goes on scoring spree against Cavaliers

Allen Iverson was in regular-season mode Friday, scoring 30 points in 28 minutes to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 100-98 preseason win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played without superstar LeBron James.

Iverson, who has had some of the highest-scoring games of his career against the Cavaliers, scored 15 points in the third quarter when the Sixers began to pull away.

He hit a driving layup with 6.8 seconds to go in the period, and after a steal by Lee Nailon, Iverson made a 3-pointer just before the buzzer as Philadelphia opened a 78-69 lead.

Nailon added 14 points and Kyle Korver had 11 for the Sixers.

Larry Hughes led Cleveland with 15 points and Donyell Marshall and Hamilton had 13 apiece.

James sat on the bench in street clothes a few hours after being released from the Cleveland Clinic on Friday morning following a two-night stay because of a virus that caused severe pain in his chest.

James was hospitalized Wednesday for what the team initially called a strained pectoral muscle. But Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said Friday that James came down with pleurisy, an inflammation of the thin layers of tissue covering the lungs and chest cavity.

James is being treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. He will miss the team's preseason home opener Friday night against Philadelphia.

James was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday after pain on the left side of his chest worsened after practice. He underwent a series of tests Thursday.

The third-year pro said he woke up in pain Tuesday morning after scoring 16 points the previous night in the Cavs' preseason opener against Washington.

James winced in pain a few times during practice Wednesday and said afterward that the pain was something he never felt before.

James has been remarkably durable during his first two seasons in the NBA.

As a rookie, he missed three games with a sprained right ankle. Last season, he missed only two games with a sprained left ankle.

In his second season, he led the league in minutes per game (42.4) and minutes played (3,388) while becoming just the fifth player in league history to average 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for a season.

Celtics 107, Raptors 100

At Manchester, New Hampshire, Paul Pierce scored 19 points and rookie Ryan Gomes added 18 to lead Boston over Toronto.

Justin Reed scored a pair of baskets to give Boston a 104-100 lead with 26.1 seconds left in the game and then added a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining. Mike James led Toronto with 20 points and Matt Bonner added 16 for the Raptors.

Pacers 93, Timberwolves 84

At Indianapolis, Ron Artest had 26 points to lead Indiana past Minnesota.

Rashad McCants scored 14 points and Troy Hudson and Bracey Wright each had 12 for the Timberwolves, who played without Kevin Garnett (sore right knee) and Wally Szczerbiak (sprained foot).

The Pacers were short-handed as well. Eight players missed the game with injuries, including starters Jermaine O'Neal (thigh bruise), Jamaal Tinsley (bruised back) and Jeff Foster (sore achilles).

Danny Granger had 12 points for Indiana. Stephen Jackson and Damone Brown each scored 11.

Grizzlies 101, Heat 91

At San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dahntay Jones scored 18 points to help Memphis beat Miami.

Hakim Warrick, a rookie from Syracuse, added 13 points, and Jake Tsakalidis had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis (2-0).

Dwyane Wade led Miami (1-1) with 19 points, and Shaquille O'Neal had 14 points before a near capacity crowd at the new Puerto Rico Coliseum.

Memphis rallied in the third quarter, with Warrick making a 10-footer to put the Grizzlies up 72-65 lead with 3:30 left in the quarter.

Kings 90, Clippers 84

At Los Angeles, Mike Bibby and Brad Miller each scored 14 points to lead Sacramento over Los Angeles.

Maggette and Cuttino Mobley led the Clippers with 17 points each. Mobley scored 15 points.

Bibby scored 10 points in the first half to lead the Kings to a 53-43 lead.

Francisco Garcia had 13 points for the Kings and Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 10.
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